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John Green's tumblr: On Gratitude

This post by John Green illustrates is why it’s so amazing, so NECESSARY, for people to be vulnerable. I’m a graphic designer who is writing her first novel. I will be the first to tell you that I have no idea what I’m doing. Not even a little bit. No matter how many “how to” books you read about writing a novel, nobody ever tells you how much you’ll need other people.

I thought that something was wrong with me as I constantly reached out for support, for encouragement, for someone to bounce an idea off of. I kept thinking, “This is cheating. Real writers don’t do this. Real writers just write and don’t need coddling or constant pushes in the right direction. I’m not a real writer. I’m wasting my time. I’m wasting my life.”

Hearing John’s story from the other side of this fear that I’m experiencing is overwhelmingly encouraging. Overwhelming in that I am crying as I write because I finally don’t feel so alone in these fears.

Even if I’m never published, I can be confident that I’m still a real writer.

Your vulnerability was a gift to me today. Thank you John.

fishingboatproceeds:

I am thinking tonight of a year ago, when Sarah and Henry and I were preparing to leave for Amsterdam, huge swaths of the book that would become TFiOS still either unwritten or horrible (and still without a title).

I was sick, and I was also overwhelmed with anxiety, all these constant humming…

What the Death of the Canadian Penny Says about the U.S.

tiredandinspird:

“Canada is scrapping the penny, ending production of the country’s smallest unit of currency this spring.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, whose department described the penny as a “nuisance” in budget documents, said the coin is now more trouble than it’s worth.

…

John Green's tumblr: Kony 2012

A great post. Now I’m questioning my initial enthusiasm for the Kony 2012 movement. I hate how I am so easily suckered in by people who have charisma and a “plan” when it’s really just tugging at emotions. I really DON’T understand how things are in Africa, and trust other people to tell me. When it’s a positive message, it’s hard not to be all gung ho to join in and feel like we can do something.

But I’m afraid this will do just the opposite, if it becomes yet another directionless, cultural issue like the occupy movement. What if we end up doing more harm than good?

Thanks for being the voice of reason, even if it’s not the “hip” or currently-popular voice. :D

edwardspoonhands:

Apologies for my stunned silence in the face of the Kony 2012 movement and the internet’s explosion of power. I’ve never felt like the whole internet has simultaneously pushed down the same keys at the same time. Not even the response to SOPA made me feel this level of…